Rezūm and Conservative Therapy for BPH: Insights from the VAPEUR RCT Study

The management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) continues to evolve as new minimally invasive treatment options emerge. One of the recent comparative studies in this field is the VAPEUR RCT, the findings of which were reviewed by Nikolay I. Sorokin, MD, PhD, Professor of the Department of Urology and Andrology at the Faculty of Fundamental Medicine, Lomonosov Moscow State University, and Head of the Urology Department at K+31 Clinic.

The study compared Rezūm water vapor therapy with combination medical treatment consisting of an alpha-blocker and a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor.

More information about the Rezūm system:

The randomized controlled trial enrolled 151 patients across 21 centers in France and Australia. All participants had previously received alpha-blocker monotherapy but no longer achieved satisfactory symptom control.

Key Results One Year After Rezūm Therapy

According to the study findings:

• 88% of patients no longer required BPH medications;
• the rate of repeat surgical intervention remained low;
• improvement in lower urinary tract symptoms (IPSS) was greater than in the combination therapy group;
• more than half of the patients achieved symptom levels classified as mild;
• sexual function was preserved.

Professor Sorokin also highlighted an important practical observation: adverse events affecting sexual function, including retrograde ejaculation, occurred more frequently in the combination medication group.

At the same time, Rezūm demonstrated its own safety profile. Early adverse events and urinary tract infections were more common during the peri-procedural period. However, 92% of all adverse events associated with Rezūm had resolved within one year.

Clinical Relevance

The VAPEUR RCT results suggest that Rezūm water vapor therapy may serve as an effective minimally invasive alternative to long-term combination drug therapy for patients with BPH, providing significant symptom relief while preserving sexual function.

This article is based on data from the VAPEUR RCT study.

Information intended for healthcare professionals only. Contraindications apply. Please refer to the instructions for use of the medical device and consult a qualified healthcare professional before use.